NEWS: Mercedes Wins Team of the Year at Laureus Awards

Mercedes is honoured to have been announced as the winner of the coveted 'Team of the Year' accolade at the 2018 Laureus World Sports Awards.

The competition was tough, but Mercedes emerged victorious in the battle for the 2018 Laureus Awards 'Team of the Year' gong on Tuesday evening.

Six teams were nominated for the award. Alongside Mercedes were the French Davis Cup Tennis squad, Champions League winners Real Madrid, NBA Champions Golden State Warriors, Super Bowl victors New England Patriots and the New Zealand America's Cup team.

A panel of leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters came up with the nominations shortlist, and the winner was selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy.

It was the fourth consecutive year Mercedes had been nominated for the award, but this is the team's first time winning it - a further celebration of its 2017 Championship success.

This is only the third time in the 'Team of the Year' award's 19-year history it has been won by a Formula One team, following Renault's victory in 2006 and Brawn GP's in 2010.

Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff was in attendance at the ceremony in Monaco and took to the stage to collect the trophy.

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'We are chasing trophies, medals and world records, but seeing what the foundation does is so much more than entertainment'

"First of all, I want to thank the Academy because we are sports people," Toto said, when accepting the award.

"We are chasing trophies, medals and world records, but seeing what the foundation does is so much more than entertainment.

"If we can contribute to a fantastic cause this gives me, personally, the ultimate satisfaction - much more than the trophy itself.

"In terms of the success we have had over the last few years, it is down to a tremendous team. It is great to see all these superstars in the room, but I have the chance to work with 1,500 superstars that should all be up on stage, because it is their award.

Four-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was recognised for his incredible 2017 season with a 'Sportsman of the Year' nomination, which was won by Tennis star Roger Federer.